WASH Specialist (WASH in Emergencies), P-3, Kabul, Afghanistan

Contract

This is a P-3 contract. This kind of contract is known as Professional and Director staff. It is normally internationally recruited only. It's a staff contract. It usually requires 5 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 110,481 USD and 144,666 USD.

Please keep in mind that the salary displayed here is an estimation by UN Talent based on the location and the type of contract. It may vary depending on the organization. The recruiter should be able to inform you about the exact salary range. In case the job description contains another salary information, please refer to this one.

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, Clean Water

The situation in Afghanistan remains exceptionally complex, with a protracted emergency, characterized by recurrent natural disasters (recurrent drought, landslide/flooding, and earthquake) an increased number of people living in poverty, continued internal displacement, unprecedented levels of food insecurity, further compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic continued threats and uncertainties. This complexity has greatly impacted the situation of children and women in the country. The withdrawal of United States military forces from Afghanistan in August 2021 and the establishment of a de-facto authorities by the Taliban has exacerbated the complexity and uncertainty of the situation and livelihood of people in Afghanistan. UNICEF is required to rapidly adapt different ways of working and collaboration to address the multiple operational constraints present in the highly volatile and unpredictable context.

How can you make a difference?

The WASH Specialist/P3-TA reports to the WASH Manager, Emergency in managing the WASH emergency output and in leading the development, preparation, management, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the WASH emergency programme, with a focus on WASH in Emergencies (WiE), within the country programme. The Specialist provides technical guidance and management support to the Zonal WASH teams throughout the programming processes, to ensure the achievement of the WiE-related output results. The Specialist also offers support in formulating with various implementation modalities (private sector, I/NGOs and CDCs and etc.) and support in developing solid monitoring/ quality assurance mechanism, including strengthening third party monitoring system, of the WASH in emergency interventions. The Specialist also provides technical advisory services to government, sector/cluster support agencies, and interacts with government at ministry and provincial levels and with staff in the donor communities if required in the absence of WASH Emergency Manager.

1. Management support to the WASH Manager-Emergency

• Advise the WASH Manager, Emergency in establishing the annual work plan and annual workplan outputs, activities and developmental priorities of WASH section staff, determining priorities and performance measurements. Monitor workplan implementation, to ensure that WASH output results, with a focus on WiE results, are achieved to schedule and performance standards. Report critical issues to the WASH Manager, Emergency for timely action.
• Provide technical advice to WASH section staff at national and zonal level on all aspects of programming and implementation primary focusing on WASH humanitarian response planning, implementation, monitoring and quality assurance aspects.
• Perform the full duties of the WASH Manager- Emergency in his/her absence.

2. Programme development and planning

• Draft the WASH inputs for the situation analysis. Provide comprehensive and current data to inform WASH policy and programme development, planning, management and implementation. Keep abreast of WASH sector developments, for maximum efficiency and effectiveness in WASH programme design, management and implementation.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues and partners to discuss national WASH priorities, resources, strategies and methodologies to ensure the most strategic use of the collective resources of external support agencies.
• Participate in strategic WASH programme planning discussions and the formulation of the WASH outcome and output results, related indicators, baselines, targets and means of verification, ensuring alignment with the UNICEF’s Strategic Plan, UNICEF’s global WASH strategy and the country programme as well as government plans and priorities, and the role of other WASH external support agencies.
• Prepare WASH donor proposals, ensuring alignment with the WASH output results in the country programme.

3 Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results

• Draft documentation for programme reviews and analytical statements on progress and constraints of WASH outcome and output results.
• Provide technical and operational support throughout all stages of programming processes for the achievement of the WASH output results, with a focus on WiE. Ensure effective collaboration with other UNICEF sectors, where needed.
• With other external support agencies, analyze national government WASH sector programmes and projects, with a focus on WASH outcomes (behaviors), using bottleneck analysis tools available in the sector (WASH-BAT, CSOs, SDAs).
• Participate in monitoring and evaluation exercises, programme reviews and annual sectoral reviews with government and other partners and prepare reports for the WASH manager, Chief of WASH and CO management.
• Monitor, report and certify the use of sectoral programme resources (financial, administrative and other assets), verify compliance with approved allocations, organizational rules, regulations/procedures and donor commitments, standards of accountability and integrity. Report issues to the WASH manager, Emergency for timely resolution.
• Prepare sectoral progress reports for management, donors and partners.

4 Advisory services and technical support

• Participate in strategic discussions to influence national WASH policies and strategies, including the reduction of inequalities, contributing global sector learning.
• Advise senior officials in government, NGOs, UN agencies and WASH sector donor agencies on WASH policies, strategies and best practices.
• Draft policy papers, briefs and other strategic materials for use by management, donors, UNICEF regional offices and headquarters.
• Plan for the use of technical experts from the Regional Office and HQ, as and where appropriate in the WASH programme, through remote support and on-site visits.

5 Advocacy, networking and partnership building

• Build and strengthen strategic partnerships with government counterparts, UN agencies, donor agencies, WASH institutions, NGOs, research institutes and the private sector to stimulate coordination and collaboration.
• Support analysis of national budgets for WASH, cost analysis and value-for-money studies, to advocate for improvements in sector efficiency.
• Produce materials for WASH programme advocacy to promote awareness, establish partnerships and support fund-raising.
• Participate in inter-agency discussions, ensuring that UNICEF’s position, interests and priorities are fully considered and integrated in the planning and agenda setting.
• Interact with global and regional initiatives and partnerships for WASH.

6 Humanitarian WASH preparedness and response

• Support WASH Manager and back up guidance to the zonal WASH team in all aspects of UNICEF’s preparedness/response for WASH in Emergencies (WiE).
• Ensure the coordination and collaboration arrangements for humanitarian WASH are in place, for instant robust coordinated response and monitoring in case of an emergency.
• Ensure that all UNICEF WASH staff at national and zonal levels are familiar and equipped with UNICEF’s procedures for responding in an emergency.
• Take up leadership/managerial role in an emergency response and early recovery, as and when the need arises.

7 Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

• Manage the implementation, monitoring and documentation of WASH action research and innovation (technical or systems), ensuring rigorous monitoring and wide sharing of results.
• Prepare learning/knowledge products, covering innovative approaches and good practices, to support overall WASH sector development.
• Support the professional development of UNICEF WASH staff, to ensure our sector capacity remains up-to-date with latest developments.
• Initiate and contribute to the systematic assessment of WASH sector capacity gap analysis, in collaboration with government and other stakeholders, and support the design of initiatives to strengthen capacities systematically.
• Participate as a resource person in capacity building initiatives to enhance the competencies of clients/stakeholders.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in one of the following fields is required: civil engineering, public health, social sciences, behavior change communication, water resources engineering, sanitary engineering or another relevant technical field.
• A minimum of five years of relevant professional experience in WASH-related programme for developing countries is required.
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA).

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks:

* Female candidates are highly encouraged to apply.

* Kindly note that this is a non-family duty station.

* Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

* Employment is conditional upon receipt of medical clearance, any clearance required, the grant of a visa, and completion of any other pre-employment criteria that UNICEF may establish. Candidates may not be further considered or offer of employment may be withdrawn if these conditions are unlikely to be met before the date for commencement of service.

* The successful candidate for this emergency recruitment MUST be available to commence work within 31 days of receiving an offer.